With summer travel still in full tilt, it bears repeating that if you are going to fly, you better pack a lot of patience – and not much else.
If there was ever a time to learn how to travel light, it is now. Many seasoned travelers have learned to take new security measures in stride, but the latest developments mean different planning is needed to avoid bogging down the whole security process.
Many business travelers, for example, have learned to save time by never checking luggage, only bringing carry-on bags. This is no longer the faster way to go. Since all gels, liquids, lotions, water bottles, cosmetics, shampoo, contact lens solution, toothpaste, perfume, etc. are banned in carry-on luggage, checking your bags is the only option. In the long run, this will actually speed things up. Many people abuse the carry-on concept, struggling with several bags, holding up boarding as they wrestle their luggage into the overhead compartment.
Since all carry-on items will now be searched, it’s important to keep the load light, in order to keep the line moving. Britain has much stricter rules than the U.S. – travelers cannot have any carry-on luggage. People are allowed to take only a small, plastic bag with essentials such as passport, cash, credit cards and medications. Laptop computers, cell phones and personal music players are not allowed.
While these rules might seem extreme to many Americans who travel with a lot of gear to create a home away from home wherever they are, it’s time to accept that such restrictions make sense, and are certain in our future.
If terrorists can make bombs out of toothpaste, they can obviously engineer electronic or battery-operated devices to blow up. It’s in our best interests to take the preventive measure of putting everything, except true essentials, in checked luggage. Let’s go a step beyond U.S. restrictions and mirror Britain’s: Pack those electronics and check them. It will be mandatory one day, probably sooner than later.
Anyone who has traveled since December 2001 knows to take their shoes off while going through security, thanks to the so-called “shoe bomber” Richard Reid. He was on an American Airlines flight from Paris to Miami when he tried to light a fuse connected to explosives in his shoe. He was overpowered by passengers and crew on the flight. After that, all shoes get inspected.
Isn’t more sensible to pack and check most everything, than wait for a ban, item by item, when a terrorist tries to use it as a bomb?
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